Medicare Advantage

Scottsdale Medicare Advantage for 2027: how the HMO, HMO-POS and PPO choices differ

For 2027, Scottsdale is looking at 92 Medicare Advantage plans: 17 new, 13 gone since 2026, and 33 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 13 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Maricopa County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage opens Oct. 15, 2026, Scottsdale shoppers comparing Medicare Advantage plans will see three plan types on the shelf: HMO, HMO-POS and PPO. There is no Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan in the local lineup for 2027. The type you pick shapes how you use a network, whether you need referrals, and what happens when you see a doctor outside the plan.

Scottsdale is in Maricopa County, where CMS lists 92 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 carriers for 2027. By type, that breaks down to 56 HMO plans, 19 HMO-POS plans and 17 PPO plans. (HMO and HMO-POS together make up 75 of the 92.)

What plan types are offered in Scottsdale for 2027?

Three: HMO, HMO-POS and PPO. Scottsdale is in Maricopa County, and CMS's 2027 Landscape file shows 56 HMO plans, 19 HMO-POS plans and 17 PPO plans available there. PFFS is not part of the 2027 lineup in the county.

The full roster is in the table below. Within each type, more than one carrier competes, so your choice is not just HMO-or-PPO — it is also which company's network and rules you prefer.

What does an HMO mean for networks and referrals?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) asks you to use doctors, hospitals and pharmacies inside the plan's network, and often to pick a primary care doctor who gives referrals to specialists. Care outside the network is generally not covered except for emergencies, urgent care and dialysis.

For 2027, 14 carriers offer HMO plans in Maricopa County: Aetna (CVS Health), Alignment Health Plan, Banner Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, HealthSpring, Humana, Mercy Care Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, SCAN Health Plan and Verda Health Plan of Arizona. HMOs tend to work well for people whose doctors are already in a single, local system and who do not travel much for care.

How is an HMO-POS different from a regular HMO?

HMO-POS stands for HMO with a "point-of-service" option. It works like an HMO — you have a network and may need referrals — but it adds a limited ability to see certain providers out of network, usually at higher cost-sharing and under rules the plan sets.

For 2027, five carriers offer HMO-POS plans in Maricopa County: Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, Gold Kidney Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare. HMO-POS can be a middle ground if you want the structure of an HMO but occasionally need flexibility.

What does a PPO offer for out-of-network care?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) lets you see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to treat you, in or out of network, and generally does not require referrals to see a specialist. Out-of-network care is covered, but at a higher share of the cost than in-network care.

For 2027, five carriers offer PPO plans in Maricopa County: Aetna (CVS Health), Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. PPOs can be a fit for people who split time between Scottsdale and another part of the country, or who want the option to see out-of-network specialists without a referral. Humana also offers Regional PPO plans, which are PPOs serving a multi-state region rather than a single county.

Are there any PFFS plans in Scottsdale for 2027?

No. The 2027 Medicare Advantage Landscape for Maricopa County does not include any Private Fee-for-Service plans. A PFFS plan sets its own payment terms and lets you see any Medicare provider who agrees to those terms, but none are offered locally for 2027, so it is not a type Scottsdale shoppers will choose from this year.

How should I decide between HMO, HMO-POS and PPO in Scottsdale?

Start with your doctors and your travel. Ask each provider you want to keep whether they are in a given plan's 2027 network — not just the carrier, but the specific plan. If you spend part of the year outside Arizona or want freedom to see out-of-network specialists, a PPO (or in some cases HMO-POS) may matter more. If your care already runs through one local system and you are comfortable with referrals, an HMO may be a straightforward fit.

Plan type is only one factor. Premiums, drug lists (formularies), extra benefits, prior authorization rules and star ratings vary within every type and from plan to plan. For specifics, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or read each plan's Evidence of Coverage.

What are the 2027 enrollment dates I need to know?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, and any change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. If you take no action, your current Medicare Advantage plan renews for 2027 if it is still offered; your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), mailed in the fall, lists what is different.

In Maricopa County for 2027, CMS shows 13 plans not returning, 17 new plans and 13 renamed plans compared with 2026. If your plan is one that is leaving, you have options during AEP and additional protections — again, medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can walk you through them. There is also a Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027, when people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change.

What's confirmed for 2027 Part D costs?

CMS has set two Part D figures for 2027: the out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum deductible a plan can charge is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them in the fall.